BALTIMORE – Ben Rice got a fastball down the middle. He didn’t miss it.
Rice launched a tiebreaking grand slam in the 10th inning, helping send the Yankees home as winners in their final road game of the regular season, a 7-1 victory over the Orioles on Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards.
“Hitting a go-ahead homer is always fun,” said Rice, flashing a broad smile. “I was excited and the team was excited. We’re late in the season here, and every game is so important. We’ve just got to stay on top of it, and keep our foot on the gas.”
The Yankees (88-68) wrapped a 7-3 trip that pushed them to a season-high 20 games over .500. They remain two games behind the Blue Jays (90-66) in the American League East, with Toronto holding the tiebreaker.
“Every win is precious,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Every day, it feels like there’s so much on the line.”
Rice carried the offense much of the day, collecting a career-high-tying four hits, including an RBI single in the sixth. Since Sept. 11, he’s batting .424 (14-for-33) with seven doubles, a homer and eight RBIs.
“I think we’re seeing the emergence of a true middle-of-the-order bat with power,” Boone said. “He’s proving himself as a really formidable hitter in this league.”
The 10th inning saw the second career grand slam for Rice, who turned on a 95.2 mph Keegan Akin fastball, rocketing off his bat at 110.3 mph into the right-center-field seats. It was the Yankees’ first extra-inning grand slam since Josh Donaldson on Aug. 17, 2022, against Tampa Bay.
“Just trying to get the guy from third in,” Rice said. “You just try to get something elevated in the zone, and get something in the air.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr. tacked on his 31st homer later in the six-run 10th. The victory was credited to David Bednar, one of six Yanks relievers who tossed scoreless outings. Devin Williams celebrated his 31st birthday by striking out the side in the eighth.
“Baseball is kind of a momentum sport,” said left-hander Tim Hill. “You’re just feeding off of each other. You’re taking note of what worked for them and what they’re trying to do, and then you go out there and plan according to that. When you’re rolling, it helps the next guy, for sure.”
As Rice puts the final touches on an impressive first full season in the Majors, rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler continues to make a case for an opportunity under the bright lights of October.
The Yankees have not yet determined who would follow Max Fried and Carlos Rodón in their postseason rotation, but Schlittler would be vying with Luis Gil and Will Warren for an opportunity. His sharp 5 1/3-inning outing on Sunday helped.
“We control what we can control, but I’m confident in this team,” Schlittler said. “We’ve got a chance to put ourselves in a really good spot, whether that’s with a bye [past the Wild Card round] or not. The team is going to be locked in the next six games.”
Schlittler’s fastball touched 100.3 mph and sat 98 mph as he struck out six in an 89-pitch effort. Samuel Basallo’s fifth-inning homer accounted for the only run off Schlittler, who limited Baltimore to three hits and a walk.
“I liked the 100 mph; I liked [that he was] ahead in the count a lot,” Boone said. “I thought his stuff was really good. When he lives in the strike zone, he’s capable of being real successful.”
The solid outing was an encouraging sign for Schlittler, who had endured a bumpy September, allowing nine runs in 12 1/3 innings (6.57 ERA) entering Sunday’s start. Previously, he’d had a brilliant August, posting a 1.60 ERA across six starts.
“I had a little slip-up in the fifth there with command, but overall it was definitely a lot better than last week,” Schlittler said.
With a Major League-best 28-14 (.667) record since Aug. 6, the Yankees return to the Bronx for their final homestand of the regular season, hosting the White Sox and Orioles for games that should feature a wet and wild clinch celebration – possibly as soon as Wednesday.
“We’ve still got a chance to take the division here,” Rice said. “We have some important games coming up.”